Meet Cher Hamilton-Tekautz—Therapist at Best Therapists

Cher is a somatic trauma therapist who specializes in helping queer folks navigate complex trauma so they can love themselves as their authentic selves and have meaningful satisfying relationship(s). She completed Level 2 of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy in 2022, which is a somatic attachment based trauma therapy, that incorporates mindfulness, parts work, and inner child work to address and change internalized negative beliefs about self, increase self-compassion, and understand and shift relationship patterns. Cher is also passionate about holistic healing practices and offers reiki, a Japanese energy healing technique, to those who are interested. She also provides culturally responsive, neurodivergent and poly affirming therapy, and is kink knowledgeable. Additionally, as someone who is passionate about providing culturally responsive services and centering people’s identities (and the related experiences of privilege, discrimination, etc), Cher is a white, queer, neurodivergent, able-bodied, cis-gender woman of average body size. She is a first generation college student and grew up working class, but is now middle class. She was raised with conservative Christian beliefs and identifies spiritually as Agnostic.

I want you to love yourself and to experience how good it feels when you’re able to embrace all the pieces of yourself, no matter what society tells you about being queer, trans, BIPOC, fat, neurodivergent, disabled, etc. I want you to feel worthy of receiving love from others, to be able to connect with others joyfully, and to communicate your wants, needs, and emotions in relationships. I want you to feel ease, safety, and joy in spite of growing up in an emotionally volatile household, not being accepted for who you are, or being sexually, physically, and/or emotionally abused. As someone who is also a complex trauma survivor, I understand what it’s like to have a critical inner voice, not feel good enough, and to struggle with anxiety, depression, and people pleasing. I also know it’s probably not easy for you to reach out because you’re used to taking care of things on your own and it can be hard for you to trust or rely on people. This is why I collaborate with you on goals, check in on a regular basis about how therapy is feeling, and create a safe space for you to bring your full self (including those parts of yourself that you don’t like or feel shame about). Let’s work together so you can have more satisfying relationships and feel worthy, confident, and proud of who you are.

Masters of Social Work | University of Minnesota, 2009